Dallington preschool forced to close after repeated copper thefts
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Copper thefts from powerlines are causing significant disruptions at a nonprofit preschool in Dallington.
In the past two weeks, the facility experienced three separate incidents where copper was stolen, forcing the preschool to close.
The latest incident happened this morning.
Located adjacent to the redzone on Gayhurst Road, Educational Child Care Centre is in an area increasingly targeted by criminals, attracted by its relative isolation from residential properties.
Principal Sarah Webb-Matenga said the thefts had a huge impact on the school's operations.
“It happened again today, I went to switch off the alarm, and thought here we go again.”
Power was also cut to the preschool last Friday and the Friday before that.
Webb-Matenga said Orion was really good and sent someone out as soon as they could.
But the stress the thefts were causing was huge on families.
“We have families arriving at 8 in the morning, before we’ve had time to call them, and it really affects parents, particularly working parents, some who are teachers themselves - trying to organise their own children.
Webb-Matenga said the preschool didn’t tell the children about the thefts.
“But it’s obvious parents talk, and we had one child asking if we had thieves or bad people at the preschool.”
The preschool has also had its gas califont stolen on three occasions, costing $2,000 each time.
Webb-Matenga said that was a huge financial blow to the nonprofit organisation, particularly as insurance was not applicable due to the califont's external location and a high excess of $3,000.
Previously, the preschool managed to tracked down the offender of the first two thefts, after making enquires at a local salvage yard.
“We gave the details to police but they said it wasn’t big enough to investigate.”
Webb-Matenga said police would only follow up if they happened to pulled over the offender while conducting routine patrols.
Police have been contacted for comment.
